# 2020 Alaska Senate election

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The 2020 Alaska Senate elections took place as part of the biennial 2020 United States elections. Voters in Alaska elected state senators in 11 of the state's 20 senate districts – the usual ten plus one special election. State senators serve four-year terms in the Alaska Senate, with half seats up for election every two years. Primary elections on August 18, 2020, determined which candidates appeared on the general election ballot on November 3, 2020.
Following the previous election in 2018, Republicans had control of the Alaska Senate with 13 seats to Democrats' 7 seats. One Democrat caucused with the Republicans, giving them a governing majority of 14 seats.

## Composition

| Affiliation | Party (shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| Affiliation | Republican | Democratic | Total | Vacant |
| Before election | 13 | 7 | 20 | 0 |
| After election | 13 | 7 | 20 | 0 |
| Change | | | | |

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Lean R | October 21, 2020 |

## Overview

2020 Alaska Senate election General election — November 3, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Votes | % | Seats not up | Seats up | Candidates | Before | After |
| | Republican | 104,467 | 57.84 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 13 |
| | Democratic | 39,447 | 21.84 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| | Independent | 26,286 | 14.55 | — | — | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| | Alaska Independence | 6,753 | 3.74 | — | — | 1 | — | — |
| | Write-ins | 2,650 | 1.47 | — | — | — | — | — |
| | Libertarian | 998 | 0.55 | — | — | 1 | — | — |
| Total | Total | 180,601 | 100 | 11 | 9 | 24 | 20 | 20 |

## Close races

| District | Winner | Margin |
| District H | Democratic | 15.7% |
| District M | Republican | 15.5% |
| District N | Republican | 4.1% |

## Incumbents defeated
### In primary

Two Republican incumbents lost renomination.
* N District: Senate President Cathy Giessel lost renomination to Roger Holland.
* B District: John Coghill lost renomination to Robert Myers Jr.

## Summary of results

| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected Senator | Party |
| B | John Coghill | Rep | Robert Myers Jr. | Rep |
| D | David S. Wilson | Rep | David S. Wilson | Rep |
| F | Shelley Hughes | Rep | Shelley Hughes | Rep |
| H | Bill Wielechowski | Dem | Bill Wielechowski | Dem |
| J | Tom Begich | Dem | Tom Begich | Dem |
| L | Natasha von Imhof | Rep | Natasha von Imhof | Rep |
| M (special) | Josh Revak | Rep | Josh Revak | Rep |
| N | Cathy Giessel | Rep | Roger Holland | Rep |
| P | Gary Stevens | Rep | Gary Stevens | Rep |
| R | Bert Stedman | Rep | Bert Stedman | Rep |
| T | Donny Olson | Dem | Donny Olson | Dem |

## Detailed results
### District B

Republican primary John Coghill, the incumbent since 2009, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from Robert Myers Jr., who announced his candidacy for the seat on July 10. Trailing by 14 votes in the official count, incumbent Coghill asked for a recount, but, when the lead remained the same after the recount, Coghill conceded defeat and Myers was declared the winner.
Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert Myers Jr. | 1,739 | 50.2 |
| | Republican | John Coghill (incumbent) | 1,725 | 49.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,462 | 100.0 |
General election
2020 Alaska Senate election, district B :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Robert Myers Jr. | 10,187 | 57.1 |
| | Independent | Marna Sanford | 6,610 | 37.0 |
| | Independent | Evan Eads (unofficially withdrew) | 986 | 5.5 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 67 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,867 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District D

David S. Wilson, the incumbent since 2017, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from five other candidates. Thomas Lamb, who filed as a nonpartisan on the Democratic primary ticket, qualified automatically for the general election. Republican primary
Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David S. Wilson (incumbent) | 1,734 | 33.9 |
| | Republican | Stephen Wright | 1,325 | 25.9 |
| | Republican | Loy "Santa" Thurman | 1,134 | 22.2 |
| | Republican | Bee Rupright | 469 | 9.2 |
| | Republican | Chandra McCain-Finch | 340 | 6.7 |
| | Republican | Huhnkie Lee | 110 | 2.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,112 | 100.0 |
General election
2020 Alaska Senate election, district D :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | David S. Wilson (incumbent) | 12,600 | 69.2 |
| | Nonpartisan | James D. "Dan" Mayfield | 2,618 | 14.4 |
| | Independent | Thomas Lamb | 2,613 | 14.3 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 386 | 2.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,217 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District F

Republican Shelley Hughes, the incumbent since 2017, and Independent Stephany Jeffers were the only two candidates to file for this seat. They both advanced unopposed to the general election. Jeffers withdrew her candidacy on August 31 and was replaced by fellow Independent Jim Cooper.
2020 Alaska Senate election, district F :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Shelley Hughes (incumbent) | 14,751 | 71.3 |
| | Independent | Jim Cooper | 4,904 | 23.7 |
| | Libertarian | Gavin Christiansen | 998 | 4.8 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 29 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,682 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District H

Democrat Bill Wielechowski, the incumbent since 2007, and Republican Madeline Gaiser were the only two candidates to file for this seat. They both advanced unopposed to the general election.
2020 Alaska Senate election, district H :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Bill Wielechowski (incumbent) | 7,297 | 57.8 |
| | Republican | Madeline Gaiser | 5,318 | 42.1 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 19 | 0.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,634 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District J

Democrat Tom Begich, the incumbent since 2017, was the only candidate to file for this seat. He ran unopposed in the general election.
2020 Alaska Senate election, district J :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Tom Begich (incumbent) | 9,235 | 92.6 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 734 | 7.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 9,969 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District L

Republican primary Natasha von Imhof, the incumbent since 2016, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from challenger Stephen Duplantis. Roselynn Cacy, the only Democrat to file, qualified automatically for the general election. Independent candidate Jeff Landfield withdrew his candidacy on August 31. Republican primary loser Stephen Duplantis announced intentions to register as a write-in candidate.
Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Natasha von Imhof (incumbent) | 2,162 | 53.5 |
| | Republican | Stephen Duplantis | 1,882 | 46.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,044 | 100.0 |
General election
2020 Alaska Senate election, district L :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Natasha von Imhof (incumbent) | 10,203 | 59.7 |
| | Democratic | Roselynn Cacy | 6,706 | 39.3 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 169 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,078 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District M (special)

After the death of Sen. Chris Birch in August 2019, Governor Mike Dunleavy appointed state representative Josh Revak to the Senate the following month. Revak was running as the incumbent and was seeking his first full term. He was challenged by two candidates in the Republican primary. In addition, two candidates were contesting the Democratic primary.
Democratic nominee Anita Thorne withdrew her candidacy on August 31. Republican primary
Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Josh Revak (incumbent) | 2,499 | 66.2 |
| | Republican | Ray Metcalfe | 911 | 24.2 |
| | Republican | Harold Borbridge | 362 | 9.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,772 | 100.0 |
Democratic primary
Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Anita Thorne | 2,732 | 87.5 |
| | Democratic | Nicholas Willie | 389 | 12.5 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,121 | 100.0 |
General election
2020 Alaska Senate special election, district M :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Josh Revak (incumbent) | 10,390 | 57.6 |
| | Independent | Andy Holleman | 7,596 | 42.1 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 55 | 0.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,041 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District N

Cathy Giessel, the incumbent since 2011 and the President of the Senate since January 2019, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from DOT&PF measurement scientist Roger Holland. Additionally, two candidates were contesting the Democratic primary. Republican primary
Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Roger Holland | 3,686 | 64.2 |
| | Republican | Cathy Giessel (incumbent) | 2,055 | 35.8 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 5,741 | 100.0 |
Democratic primary
Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Carl Johnson | 2,247 | 54.1 |
| | Democratic | Lynette Moreno Hinz | 1,907 | 45.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,154 | 100.0 |
General election
2020 Alaska Senate election, district N :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Roger Holland | 10,501 | 49.7 |
| | Democratic | Carl Johnson | 9,648 | 45.6 |
| | Independent | Carolyn "Care" Clift | 959 | 4.5 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 40 | 0.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 21,148 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District P

Gary Stevens, the incumbent since 2003, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from former state house candidate John Cox. Challenger Greg Madden contested the general election on the Alaskan Independence Party ticket. Republican primary
Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gary Stevens (incumbent) | 2,086 | 52.9 |
| | Republican | John "Bear" Cox | 1,854 | 47.1 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,940 | 100.0 |
General election
2020 Alaska Senate election, district P :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Gary Stevens (incumbent) | 12,507 | 64.7 |
| | Independence | Greg Madden | 6,753 | 34.9 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 75 | 0.4 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,335 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District R

Republican primary Bert Stedman, the incumbent since 2003, was facing opposition in the Republican primary from handyman Michael Sheldon.
Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bert Stedman (incumbent) | 1,926 | 63.8 |
| | Republican | Michael Sheldon | 1,092 | 36.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 3,018 | 100.0 |
General election
2020 Alaska Senate election, district R :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bert Stedman (incumbent) | 14,578 | 93.7 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 985 | 6.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,563 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District T

Donny Olson, the incumbent since 2001, was running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Two Republican candidates, Kotzebue vice-mayor Thomas Baker and Deering tribal president Calvin Moto II, challenged him for the seat. Republican primary
Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Thomas Baker | 674 | 60.7 |
| | Republican | Calvin Moto II | 437 | 39.3 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 1,111 | 100.0 |
General election
2020 Alaska Senate election, district T :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Donny Olson (incumbent) | 6,561 | 65.1 |
| | Republican | Thomas Baker | 3,432 | 34.0 |
| | Write-in | Write-ins | 91 | 0.9 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,084 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |